Matt Miller 7-round mock draft: Caleb Downs over Sonny Styles for Giants

ESPN’s Matt Miller has released a seven-round NFL mock draft, and the projections for the New York Giants are interesting. Let’s go through them.

Round 1 (No. 5) — Caleb Downs, S, Ohio State

The Giants have a bunch of needs to choose from with this pick — with receiver and right tackle being prominent ones — but Downs’ fit with new coach John Harbaugh can’t be ignored. Having coached Ed Reed and Kyle Hamilton in Baltimore, Harbaugh knows the value of a versatile, smart safety prospect. That describes Downs, who started immediately at Alabama as a freshman and for two seasons at Ohio State. Pairing him with Jevon Holland would give New York a dynamic duo at safety while needs elsewhere can be addressed later.

Miller’s logic is impeccable, and I have made the connection between Harbaugh and the great safeties who have anchored defenses he has been associated with many times. Harbaugh himself has praised Downs.

“Big fan, big fan,” Harbaugh said of Downs. “We favor Hall of Fame safeties, so if we have a chance to draft a potential future Hall of Fame safety in Caleb Downs, that would be just fine with me.

“We’ll take the best player. You know, when you draft that high, you take the best player. It’s not a need pick. It’s the best player pick because you’re going for the guy that’s going to be that kind of a player. You’re talking about a guy that you would like to see someday wearing a gold jacket if possible. That’s what the goal is with that pick. …

“That guy would be just fine with me. I’d take him in a second.”

With Ohio State linebacker Sonny Styles still on the board here, though, I just can’t take Downs. As good as he is, and as obvious as the connection to Harbaugh’s past is, I can’t pass on the upside Styles possesses both because of his athletic traits and the fact that off-ball linebacker is so new to him. Harbaugh’s best defenses have also always featured at least one top-tier off-ball linebacker. I know the Giants signed Tremaine Edmunds, but I’m not sure he is that guy.

It was interesting to me that Miller took Downs, and that Styles fell all the way to the Cincinnati Bengals at No. 10. It makes me wonder if my last mock draft, with the Giants actually getting Styles at No. 9 after a trade down, is more realistic than I might have believed.

For what it’s worth, Cole VanWeichen of SB Nation’s Ohio State website, Land Grant Holy Land, told me on the ‘Valentine’s Views’ podcast that he would take Styles before Downs himself.

Round 2 (No. 37) — KC Concepcion, WR, Texas A&M

Concepcion would further help second-year quarterback Jaxson Dart while adding a playmaker opposite Malik Nabers. Concepcion is an elite yards-after-catch receiver who excels from the slot. He’s a chain mover who would seamlessly replace the departed Wan’Dale Robinson.

I said in my mock draft on Sunday that I keep finding myself selecting a guard with the Giants’ second-round pick. Well, not if Concepcion is available. Perhaps not if wide receiver Denzel Boston of Washington, who went one pick earlier to the Las Vegas Raiders, is also available.

If Concepcion, 5-foot-11½, 196 pounds, is on the board at 37 I am not letting him go by.

In his Concepcion scouting report, Todd McShay says:

Concepcion is likely to come off the board late in Round 1 as probably the fifth or sixth receiver selected. He’s not in the top tier of WR prospects with Carnell Tate, Makai Lemon, and Jordyn Tyson, but he carries a higher grade than early– and mid–Round 2 guys like Chris Brazzell II, Germie Bernard, Zachariah Branch, and Malachi Fields.

Chicago’s Luther Burden is slightly taller and thicker than Concepcion, and Indianapolis’s Josh Downs is slightly smaller but faster. As a dynamic slot receiver who stresses defensive backs with his burst off the line and body control to uncover quickly, Concepcion shares a lot of similarities with both players. But Concepcion’s special trait is his ability to create after the catch. Staying healthy and improving his ball skills (particularly in traffic) are the challenges, but Concepcion is ready to make an immediate impact as a receiver and returner.

Although the Giants added Darnell Monney and Calvin Austin, and still have Darius Slayton, there is a distinct chance none of those players are Giants past 2026. So, the position is still a need. For me, Concepcion is good value here.

Round 4 (No. 105) — Keagan Trost, OL, Missouri

There is no explanation of the picks at this point in the draft from Miller.

Here is a scouting report from Sports Info Solutions on Trost, a seven-year senior at Missouri:

Keagen Trost projects as a backup guard who can play either side. He’ll fit best in a zone scheme, but has some ability to be successful in a gap scheme as well. Trost saw time at Morgan State, Indiana State, and Wake Forest prior to his lone season at Mizzou. Additionally, he will be 25 for his rookie season. Trost has only ever played tackle, but a lack of length likely moves him inside. With that said, he is technical enough to slot in at RT in a pinch to get out of a game. He does a good job varying his pass sets, utilizing vertical and quick sets, and he plays with good leverage. His lack of length can allow rushers into his chest at times, along with him being a bit of a two-hand puncher, but he plays out in front, allowing him to play with more length than he truly has. Guard will take some time for him to master, but his ability to work into proper positioning and sustain his blocks through in the run game will allow for a smooth transition. However, he’ll finish with more tenacity and improve his awareness in space.

There was going to be a price to be paid for both drafting a wide receiver at No. 37, which I believe was the right decision given Concepcion’s availability, and not having a third-round pick.

The plug-and-play starting guards like Emmanuel Pregnon, Chase Bisontis, Gennings, Dunker, and Keylan Rutledge are long gone. Trost seems like a maybe, a dart throw.

I might have preferred Trost’s Missouri teammate, defensive tackle Chris McClellan, in this spot. Miller has McClellan going No. 134 to the Las Vegas Raiders.

Round 5 (No. 145) — Chandler Rivers, CB, Duke

Maybe I like Dru Phillips more than others, but I would rather draft an outside cornerback than a slot cornerback.

NFL.com’s Lance Zierlein says:

Rivers was a productive, 45-game starter over his four seasons at Duke. He competed hard when lined up outside but figures to scoot inside in the NFL due to his lack of size and length. He’s capable in zone or man coverages, utilizing good anticipation and short-area quickness, but he could struggle to contest big slot matchups. He’s willing in run support but might be too small to finish tackles at a pro rate. Rivers is football smart and rarely stacks mistakes. He should appeal to teams looking for a nickelback on Day 3.

Considering the need on the defensive line, I would rather take Rayshaun Benny of Michigan or Tim Keegan of Alabama in this spot.

If I was picking a cornerback, Julian Neal of Arkansas would be my choice. I like the guy more than Miller apparently, since Miller has Neal going No. 230 to the Pittsburgh Steelers.

What do you think of Miller’s selections for New York, Giants fans?